Grinder

Abstract

A cannabis grinder includes a pair of square-cuboid-shaped body portions and a pair of grinding assemblies. One of the body portions has one of the grinding assemblies recessed in a substantially square face thereof. The other grinding assembly extends from a substantially square face of the other body portion. The grinding assemblies have teeth that are arranged to allow relative rotation of the grinding assemblies without interference between the teeth. Corners of a body portions proximate the grinding assembly are shaped to avoid striking digits of a user gripping the body portions during the relative rotation. Various methods of manufacturing and using such a grinder are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grinder comprising:
 a first substantially square-cuboid-shaped body portion having a first cylindrical grinding assembly recessed in a substantially square face thereof, the first cylindrical grinding assembly including a first plurality of teeth;   a second substantially square-cuboid-shaped body portion;   a second cylindrical grinding assembly extending from a substantially square face of the second substantially square-cuboid-shaped body portion and adapted to be rotateably received in the first grinding assembly to define a grinding chamber, the second grinding assembly including a second plurality of teeth positioned to allow relative rotation between the first and second grinding assemblies without interference between teeth of the first and second plurality of teeth,   wherein corners of one of the first and second body portions proximate a respective one of the first and second grinding assemblies are shaped to avoid striking digits of a user gripping the other of the first and second body portions during the relative rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein the corners of the other of the first and second body portions are shaped to avoid striking digits of a user gripping the one of the first and second body portions during the relative rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein the corners are shaped by rounding, bevelling, or chamfering. 
     
     
         4 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein at least three teeth of the first and second plurality of teeth are arranged to define one or more circles coaxial with an axis of the relative rotation, the at least three teeth being arranged circumferentially along the one or more circles. 
     
     
         5 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein at least one tooth of the first and second pluralities of teeth has a first substantially straight cutting edge and a second cutting edge having a filleted base, the first and second cutting edges being positioned so that material received in the grinding chamber is attacked by the first cutting edge when the relative rotation is in a first direction and by the second cutting edge when the relative rotation is in a direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein at least one tooth of the first and second pluralities of teeth includes one or more vanes extending along one or more faces of the at least one tooth, the one or more faces being at least partially tangential to the relative rotation, wherein the vanes apply a shear force during the relative rotation to material received in the grinding chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The grinder of  claim 6  wherein a first tooth of one of the at least one tooth including one or more vanes extending on a face thereof cooperates with vanes extending on a face of a second tooth of the second plurality of teeth during the relative rotation when respective ones of the faces of the first and second tooth having vanes are at least partially opposed to apply opposed shear forces to material in the grinding chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The grinder of  claim 7  wherein the vanes of the first and second teeth extend substantially parallel to an axis of the relative rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein one or more teeth of the first and second pluralities of teeth are arc-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein one or more teeth of the first and second pluralities of teeth have one or more cutting edges substantially parallel to an axis of the relative rotation. 
     
     
         11 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein one or more teeth of the first and second pluralities of teeth have a cutting edge substantially perpendicular to an axis of the relative rotation. 
     
     
         12 . The grinder of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the first and second grinding assemblies includes an axle. 
     
     
         13 . The grinder of  claim 12  wherein the axle includes a magnet for selectively magnetically retaining the one of the first and second grinding assemblies to the other of the first and second grinding assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The grinder of  claim 13  wherein the magnet cooperates with a second magnet of the other of the first and second grinding assemblies for the magnetically retaining. 
     
     
         15 . The grinder of  claim 12  wherein one or more vanes extend along the axle. 
     
     
         16 . The grinder of  claim 15  wherein the one or more vanes extend along the axle in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the relative rotation. 
     
     
         17 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein an inner edge of the second grinding assembly is scalloped. 
     
     
         18 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein an outside face of at least one of the first and second body portions includes a recessed portion defining a tray. 
     
     
         19 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein the first and second body portions each have a rounded square or a squircle cross-section. 
     
     
         20 . The grinder of  claim 1  wherein a radius contour is provided between an inner edge of at least one of the first and second grinding assemblies and a base of that assembly.